#Osagyefo Sekou

[a-queer-seminarian]

I think queer, black, poor women are the church's salvation.

Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou

[kimsiever]

The left needs to do more to embrace religion.

And by that, I don’t mean that all leftists should go to church. What I mean is that I think the left, in general, is too dismissive of religion.

Many of the leftists I meet see themselves as rational, with no need for God or religion. They’re often atheist and see religious people as deluded or ignorant. Or both. And they have a stereotype in their mind that they pigeonhole religious people into: that of a socially conservative person stuck in the 1950s, who hates women and minorities, loves capitalism, and doesn’t care about the environment.

The problem, however, is that this doesn’t accurately cover the spectrum of religious adherents. This viewpoint erases the trans ministers I know. It erases the ministers I know who are also IWW members. It erases people like Raphael Warnock, Marissa Johnson, Osagyefo Sekou, Rahiel Tesfamariam, Cornel West, Bree Newsom, and Mona Eltahawy.

The left criticizes religion for its framing of unbelievers as lost and misled. But then the atheist leftist does the same thing when labelling theists as blind and unintelligent, when they call religious leftists hypocritical or not anarchist enough.

Here’s the thing: there are radical teachings within religion, teachings that call for the dismantling of power, that denounce the rich and elevate the poor, and that advocate for an egalitarian society where all are equal.

The problem is that these principles have been ignored by adherents of these religions who are on the political right, who have hijacked their religions, massaging their faiths to justify and rationalize their politics.

The last thing religion needs is for all the leftists to leave. The more leftists that leave religion, the fewer people remain who can see the radical politics inherent within the teachings of the religion’s founders and the easier it is for the religious right to become bolder in their hijacking of those religions.

Plus, the more the left abandons religion, the more the right will see the left as godless, and the less likely that religious adherents will be willing to leave right-wing politics.

We don’t need the left abandoning religion. We need the left reframing religion, bringing the radical back to religion. The right had no problem reframing religion to suit their agendas. The left should do the same. The difference is that the left would be bringing those religions back to how they were intended to be practiced.

[jewish-privilege]

Brenda Brown-Grooms: We are still working together to keep the American Dream alive

I was at the sunrise service at First Baptist Church on Main at 6 a.m. on August 12, with Cornell West, Tracy Blackmon, Osagyefo Sekou and various groups soon to be deployed to our respective stations (mine to First United Methodist Church, a designated safe space, prayer fortress, first aid station, food and water replenishing). We prayed, sang, read Scripture, counseled with those coming in for respite. We were tear gassed (it wafted up from the park across the sidewalk), were locked down more times than I can now remember, and watched Heather Heyer being killled and others injured in real time, via livestream, while hearing a helicopter hovering over our heads.

A little more than a month before the July 2017 gathering of the KKK in Emancipation Park (in protest of the city's approved plan to remove the statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee) we all got word of this coming August gathering. Concerned citizens, rightly discerning this to be, above all, an issue of morality and not just policy, called on their faith leaders to lead Charlottesville's response. Indeed, they were crystal clear: if you don't lead, we won't follow.

We mounted prayer vigils, monitored KKK/alt-right social media, tried to work with various police departments in this area, and quickly discovered that they were not listening to us, which later bespoke their unpreparedness for the situation.

After the July protest, those of us in the faith community realized the enormity of the coming situation and sought to prepare ourselves and our congregations as best we could. Our biggest hindrance was the intransigence of the city government, university administrators, and Charlottesville's elite in convincing themselves that something like what did happen would never happen in beautiful, iconic, happy Charlottesville! THIS ISN'T WHO WE ARE!

However, beautiful Charlottesville has an ugly underbelly. If you have enough money, enough power, the right zip code, preferably no Jewish ancestry, and are not a person of color, you may well be able to position yourself, isolate yourself, so that none of what poor, powerless, native Charlottesvillians of color experience. I am an African American native of Charlottesville and a graduate of the University of Virginia. I remember and have always experienced the ugliness of this beautiful place.

To those who stubbornly thought it "couldn't happen here," I say: Are you insane? Of course this is Charlottesville. What planet do you live on? Yes, some Nazis and KKK and alt-righters came from out of town, but a lot more of them than you think live right here.

On August 11, I participated in a glorious worship service at St. Paul's, across the street from the Rotunda at UVA, where the tiki torch gathering happened and Nazis cried, "Jews will not replace us." I, along with about 500 people, was locked down in the church. I had a premonition that something would happen on Friday. They had to announce their presence some way.

Last summer crystallized for me, yet again, that America has yet to live out her creed (that all people are created equal, endowed by our Creator, with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness). Everyone ever labeled a "minority" in this country knows America's failure, its original sin. And yet, each generation, we hope and work for the American Dream. The original sin that infects our republic, our religious practices and citizenship in the world is white supremacy. We must admit it. Rout it out. Begin again. We must talk about who benefits and who does not. We must admit that our institutions are shot through with unfairness, injustice and death. We must hear and include the stories that have been and are still being suppressed in order to perpetuate a false, an incomplete narrative--leaving out Native Americans, Asian Americans, South Americans, African Americans, Immigrants, Refugees and those left without homelands and others in any of the myriad ways we humans know to "other."

Since last year's open summer of hate, I have found brothers and sisters of all races, creeds, faith or no faith traditions, who have been willing to sit together, talk together, argue together, cry together, think together, plan together, walk together, to keep the American Dream alive, one more generation. We are working together to raise up another generation to follow us, who will do the same. Shalom.

Brenda Brown-Grooms is a pastor with the New Beginnings Christian Community and part of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective (CCC), a group of clergy and laypeople dedicated to dialogue about the challenge of race relations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. She is also part of and Congregate Cville, an activist organization which grew out of CCC.

...

Rachel Schmelkin: I learned a lot that day about what it means to truly support and protect each other

On August 12, 2017, I took a few cautious steps out of First United Methodist Church, a designated "safe space" for anti-Nazi demonstrators, to survey the park where Nazis were screaming ugly white supremacist chants. "Jews will not replace us!," still rings in my ear as I recall that dreadful weekend. I'd never seen such hate up close, and for the first time I felt afraid to be a Jew in America.

A few days before the rally, I told my close friends, Reverends Phil and Robert that I was worried that I would be a target, but that it was important to be to be visible and present despite the risks. They promised me that they would watch out for me. They said "We will not let anybody get near you. In fact, we'll stay with you as long as you're out there. We will not leave you alone." I trusted them, and they held to their word.

That day, I continued further out of the door and did my best to project songs of love and peace that might drown out the hate. With my guitar in hand and my brother standing next to me, we sang out "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!"

I learned a lot that day about what it means to truly support and protect each other, and to have others support and protect me. A black friend confided in me that she's felt unsafe in her body her entire life. As a Jew, I felt that same visceral fear that August day in Charlottesville when neo-Nazis threatened to torch the Jews.

Anti-Semitism animates white supremacist ideology and is tightly integrated with its other racist and xenophobic views. Charlottesville's "summer of hate" taught me that alliances across faiths, across race, across all kinds of differences are the best way to combat racism, anti-Semitism, and all types of bigotry and hate.

Since August 12, courageous citizens of Charlottesville have consistently come together to make Charlottesville a miserable place to be a white supremacist; they're not welcome here.

Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin is with Congregation Beth Israel in Charlottesville.

See the full piece at CNN. 

TW: The top of page has a video that autoplays starting on a graphic image of car attack that killed Heather Heyer, Z’’L may her memory be a blessing, and also includes images and video from the white supremacists marching and chanting anti Black and antisemitic slogans.

[poetpreacherprocrastinator]

For we have seen you in their faces, O God....that God loves us so much that God is willing to stand in front of tanks and tear gas and bear witness to a truth...

from a prayer for young activists in Ferguson by Osagyefo Sekou, quoted in  Ferguson & Faith: Sparking Leadership & Awakening Community by Leah Gunning Francis, p. 155

[berniesrevolution]

On Tuesday, after a weekend that included a white supremacist mowing down and killing a peaceful counter-protester in Charlottesville and Nazis marching on the University of Virginia with torches, the president of the United States stood in front of the American people and said, “What about the ‘alt-left’ that came charging at, as you say, the ‘alt-right’? Let me ask you this: What about the fact they came charging—that they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do.”

There were, as it turns out, a great number of Charlottesville locals present to witness the violence and lawlessness on display in this town—my town—last weekend. I asked local witnesses, many in the faith community, every one of whom was on the streets of Charlottesville on Saturday, whether there was a violent, club-wielding mob threatening the good people on team Nazi. Here’s what I heard back:

Brandy Daniels Postdoctoral fellow at the Luce Project on Religion and Its Publics at UVA

It was basically impossible to miss the antifa for the group of us who were on the steps of Emancipation Park in an effort to block the Nazis and alt-righters from entering. Soon after we got to the steps and linked arms, a group of white supremacists—I’m guessing somewhere between 20-45 of them—came up with their shields and batons and bats and shoved through us. We tried not to break the line, but they got through some of us—it was terrifying, to say the least—shoving forcefully with their shields and knocking a few folks over. We strengthened our resolve and committed to not break the line again. Some of the anarchists and anti-fascist folks came up to us and asked why we let them through and asked what they could do to help. Rev. Osagyefo Sekou talked with them for a bit, explaining what we were doing and our stance and asking them to not provoke the Nazis. They agreed quickly and stood right in front of us, offering their help and protection.

Less than 10 minutes later, a much larger group of the Nazi alt-righters come barreling up. My memory is again murky on the details. (I was frankly focused on not bolting from the scene and/or not soiling myself—I know hyperbole is common in recounting stories like these, but I was legitimately very worried for my well-being and safety, so I was trying to remember the training I had acquired as well as, for resolve, to remember why I was standing there.) But it had to have been at least 100 of them this go around. I recall feeling like I was going to pass out and was thankful that I was locked arms with folks so that I wouldn’t fall to the ground before getting beaten. I knew that the five anarchists and antifa in front of us and the 20 or so of us were no match for the 100-plus of them, but at this point I wasn’t letting go.

“Cornel West said that he felt that the antifa saved his life. I didn’t roll my eyes at that statement or see it as an exaggeration.”

At that point, more of the anarchists and antifa milling nearby saw the huge mob of the Nazis approach and stepped in. They were about 200-300 feet away from us and stepped between us (the clergy and faith leaders) and the Nazis. This enraged the Nazis, who indeed quickly responded violently. At this point, Sekou made a call that it was unsafe—it had gotten very violent very fast—and told us to disperse quickly.

(Continue Reading)

[kaknewsdotcom]

NDC’s Manifesto Is A Fraud – Sekou Nkrumah

NDC’s Manifesto Is A Fraud – Sekou Nkrumah

Sekou Nkrumah has described the recently launched ‘The People’s Manifesto’ of the opposition National Democratic Congress as a “fraud”.

Sekou Nkrumah in a series of posts on his Facebook timeline wrote, “I was asked to describe the recently launched NDC manifesto in one word. My answer is Fraud!”

Sekou, one of the sons of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, has been an active social media user who does…

[pdougmc]

What the “Alt-Left” Trump Despises Was Actually Doing in Charlottesville Last Weekend

Brandy Daniels Postdoctoral fellow at the Luce Project on Religion and Its Publics at UVA It was basically impossible to miss the antifa for the group of us who were on the steps of Emancipation Park in an effort to block the Nazis and alt-righters from entering. Soon after we got to the steps and linked arms, a group of white supremacists—I’m guessing somewhere between 20-45 of them—came up with their shields and batons and bats and shoved through us. We tried not to break the line, but they got through some of us—it was terrifying, to say the least—shoving forcefully with their shields and knocking a few folks over. We strengthened our resolve and committed to not break the line again. Some of the anarchists and anti-fascist folks came up to us and asked why we let them through and asked what they could do to help. Rev. Osagyefo Sekou talked with them for a bit, explaining what we were doing and our stance and asking them to not provoke the Nazis. They agreed quickly and stood right in front of us, offering their help and protection. Less than 10 minutes later, a much larger group of the Nazi alt-righters come barreling up. My memory is again murky on the details. (I was frankly focused on not bolting from the scene and/or not soiling myself—I know hyperbole is common in recounting stories like these, but I was legitimately very worried for my well-being and safety, so I was trying to remember the training I had acquired as well as, for resolve, to remember why I was standing there.) But it had to have been at least 100 of them this go around. I recall feeling like I was going to pass out and was thankful that I was locked arms with folks so that I wouldn’t fall to the ground before getting beaten. I knew that the five anarchists and antifa in front of us and the 20 or so of us were no match for the 100-plus of them, but at this point I wasn’t letting go. “Cornel West said that he felt that the antifa saved his life. I didn’t roll my eyes at that statement or see it as an exaggeration.” Brandy Daniels At that point, more of the anarchists and antifa milling nearby saw the huge mob of the Nazis approach and stepped in. They were about 200-300 feet away from us and stepped between us (the clergy and faith leaders) and the Nazis. This enraged the Nazis, who indeed quickly responded violently. At this point, Sekou made a call that it was unsafe—it had gotten very violent very fast—and told us to disperse quickly.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/08/what_the_alt_left_was_actually_doing_in_charlottesville.html

[bluesmagazine]

Recensie: Rev. Sekou - In Times Like These

Recensie: Rev. Sekou – In Times Like These

Rev. Sekou – In Times Like These Format: CD – LP / Label: Zent Records Releasedatum: 19 mei 2017

Tekst: Peter Marinus

Wanneer je het over een album met een duidelijke boodschap hebt, dan heb je het zeker over dit album van Rev. Sekouuit St. Louis, Missouri. Deze singer-songwriter, die voluit Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou heet, is een veelzijdig mens. Hij is aktief als auteur, documentairemaker,…

[originalgladiatorcollective]

"The artist is a diplomat between that which already is and that which is yet to be."

Osagyefo Sekou

[msflamingo]

Dr. Cornel West and Rev Osagyefo Sekou breaching the barrier in Ferguson, Missouri, August 10, 2015.

[locusimperium]

I understand the gospel of Jesus as a story about God choosing to become flesh in the body of an unwed teenage mother among an unimportant people in an unimportant part of the world. Jesus — a Palestinian Jewish peasant living under Roman occupation — is the salvation of the world. God in flesh was a subject of an empire. This formulation in Christian mythos sets the stage for how I read social location and political climate. As a black Christian raised in the rural south of the Arkansas Delta, I understand the gospel to affirm black dignity and self-determination. Black Christianity begins with the assumption of black humanity, which is a left-of-center project inside the American empire. The situatedness of the first century Palestinian living under Roman occupation is the same situatedness of black people in America. Thus we must resist in the way which Jesus resisted. We must be present with the least of these as he called and be willing to go to the cross as he did. Anything less is heresy.

Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, who has been out there in Ferguson, supporting the uprising with body and spirit, from the beginning. Check out this interview with him, "The Gospel is Not a Neutral Term."

[socialjusticequotations]

Neoliberalism is the master's house and tool. It limits discursive space, subjugates radicality and seduces the othered into defending its existence.

Rev. Osagyefo Sekou "The Master's House Is Burning: bell hooks, Cornel West and the Tyranny of Neoliberalism"

[kaknewsdotcom]

Why Should You Elect A ‘Fraud’ And An ‘Imposter’ – Sekou Nkrumah Lashes Out At Onzy

Why Should You Elect A ‘Fraud’ And An ‘Imposter’ – Sekou Nkrumah Lashes Out At Onzy

Sekou Nkrumah, one of the sons of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, says he does not understand why the Convention People’s Party (CPP) will allow an Egyptian posing as a son of Kwame Nkrumah to contest for an executive position and win as vice chairman.

According to him, if a character like Onzy Anwar aka Onzy Kwame Nkrumah managed to even get a Ghanaian birth certificate, “then whoever signed that…